India test-fires nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile

Balasore (Odisha): India on Tuesday successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile with a strike range of 350 km from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha as part of a user trial by defence forces.

The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired at around 10:05 AM from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range, about 15 km from here, defence sources said.

Describing the launch of the sophisticated missile as a complete success, ITR Director MVKV Prasad said all the mission parameters were met during the trial.

"The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the launch activities were carried out by the specially formed Strategic Force Command (SFC) and monitored by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise," the sources said.

"The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha," they said.

"The downrange teams onboard a ship deployed near the designated impact point in Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown," they said.

Inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, Prithvi, the first missile developed by DRDO under India's prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program), is now a proven technology, said a defence official.

"The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists," he said.

Such training launches clearly indicate India's operational readiness to meet any eventuality and also establishes the reliability of this deterrent component of India's strategic arsenal, the official said.

Prithvi is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory.

The last user trial of Prithvi-II missile was successfully carried out from the same base on October 7.